Religious Freedom Victory: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Catholic Adoption Agency

COLUMBUS—This morning, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in the Fulton v. Philadelphia case in favor of Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia’s policy to decline to place children in married same-sex households.

The following statement is from Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer:

“Religious freedom matters because it’s what enables Christians to be a blessing to our community. The Christian faith calls us to serve the orphan, widow, and stranger, and, for more than 200 years, Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia has been helping children neglected by society.

“Yet, as religious intolerance rises in America today, there are some powerful people—like the bureaucrats in Philadelphia—that would rather shut down Christian institutions because they don’t like Christian beliefs than continue to let God-honoring organizations help the impoverished and desperate.

“Today’s Supreme Court victory was another important step in reminding all those in power that you cannot force Christians to choose between our faith and our works. As the Court said, ‘It is plain that the City’s actions have burdened Catholic Social Service’s religious exercise by putting it to the choice of curtailing its mission or approving relationships inconsistent with its beliefs.’

“As lawmakers continue to be pressured and bullied to pass discriminatory laws like the Ohio Fairness Act, they should remember that our Constitution fundamentally rejects any attempt to force people to surrender their faith.”

You can read the decision here.

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. 

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